05 Aug Premature Menopause May Increase Risk of Heart Failure and AFib

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Jean Shin
Department of Family Medicine
Korea University College of Medicine
Seoul,Republic of Korea

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Younger age at menopause is a possible risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, data on the association among premature menopause, age at menopause, and the risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation are lacking. We aimed to examine the association of premature menopause and age at menopause with the risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. 

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: Women with a history of premature menopause had a 33% and 9% increased risks of heart failure and atrial fibrillation, respectively, compared to those without such a history. The younger the age at menopause, the higher the incident risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

MedicalResearch.com: Based on the results from our large-scale cohort study, women with a history of premature menopause or early menopausal age may have an increased risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

Also, based on the results of this study, proper gynecological management such as regular examination to lower modifiable risk regarding early menopause may play an important role in preventing cardiovascular risk. Particularly, women with history of premature menopause or early menopausal age can learn of the cardiovascular diseases (such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation) risk that may come with having such history. These women might motivate them to improve their lifestyle, such as quitting smoking or exercising, in order to minimize the chance of developing cardiovascular diseases from other risk factors.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: In order to explain the results of our study, we hypothesized the disappearance of estrogen effects for a longer period as a result of earlier cessation of menses may lead to greater risk in developing heart failure and atrial fibrillation. However, underlying mechanisms of the associations found in our study still need further investigations.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?

Response: For clinicians, we believe that detection and monitoring of gynecological features including menopause and managing them appropriately may also be helpful in perspective of cardiovascular risk in women. Particularly in women with a history of premature menopause or early menopausal age, gynecological histories such as menopausal age should be routinely considered in addition to traditional risk factors when evaluating the future risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation, in order to prevent the diseases and to establish therapeutic strategies.

Citation:

Jean Shin, Kyungdo Han, Jin Hyung Jung, Hyo Jin Park, Wonsock Kim, Youn Huh, Yang Hyun Kim, Do Hoon Kim, Seon Mee Kim, Youn Seon Choi, Kyung Hwan Cho, Ga Eun Nam, Age at menopause and risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation: a nationwide cohort study, European Heart Journal, 2022;, ehac364, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehac364

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Last Updated on August 5, 2022 by Marie Benz MD FAAD